Tennis ball container safety shield

Abstract

A pull-top lid for a pressurized tennis ball container having a rubber safety shield for protecting against injury from the sharp pressing seam edge of the removed lid. The rubber gasket-like safety shield being bonded to the upper surface of the top enclosure panel and reaching beyond the pressing seam of the lid such that protection against injury is provided by the shield being extended beyond the sharp edge of the sheet metal. An alternative embodiment having an outer perimeter comprised of an arch shaped extension arm extending across the pressing seam and resting upon the circular lip of the raised rim. The lid upon being pulled off the the top panel synchonously causes the extension arm to wrap about and encapsulate the sharp edge of the pressing seam thereby preventing injury of any body parts.

I claim:  
     
       1. A cylindrical container comprising: 
       a removable generally circular lid having a pull tab riveted to its upper surface, the lid having a perimeter comprising of a thin, sharp pressing seam edge; and  
       a substantially circular safety shield bonded to the lid, the shield having an outer perimeter extending over and beyond the pressing seam edge of the lid, the outer perimeter having an arched generally spherically shaped extension arm which upon the lid being pulled off will curl around and encapsulate the sharp pressing seam edge.  
     
     
       2. The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises: 
       a circular lip on its upper, inner wall defining a mating edge with the pressing seam edge; and  
       the spherically shaped extension arm of the safety shield being disposed upon the circular lip,  
       whereby, the shield is in integral contact with the circular lip, only separating as the instant point of contact parts.  
     
     
       3. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the safety shield is made of rubber material. 
     
     
       4. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the safety shield is made of a plastic material. 
     
     
       5. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the safety shield is bonded to the top surface of the lid with adhesive material. 
     
     
       6. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is a tennis ball can.